Method and apparatus for universal shape cutting of pipes

Abstract

The present invention pertains to a method and apparatus for obtaining templates used in pipe end cutting essential in fabricating saddle and mitered pipe connections. The template is made by an array of z-shaped pins arranged radially to form the shape of a stepped cylinder. A flexible adjustable length track on the z shaped pins or on another set of pins forms a track for a roller on a tool to follow. This track replaces metal templates, which have to be specially made for cutting each shape and size pipe for pipe connections to other pipes or to boilers and other devices. The invention provides a large array of templates for one or more sizes of pipe eliminating the need to have a large number of templates for different pipe sizes and shapes. A miter table attachment can be used for off center pipe connection cuts.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A template comprising: 
       a plurality of pins cylindrically arrayed,  
       a pin sleeve for engaging and slideably holding the pins in the cylindrical array,  
       the pin sleeve having a locking mechanism to fix the pins in their relative positions when desired,  
       an adjustable length flexible track attached to a first end of the pins for forming a closed loop template, the track having a first fixed end and a second free end, the first fixed end being tapered to create a smooth joint as it forms the closed loop with the second free end, so as to allow for the adjustability of the length of the track, as the pins are moved along a longitudinal axis of the cylinder relative to each other.  
     
     
       2. A template as in  claim 1  wherein, 
       a cylindrical stationary sleeve for engaging and holding the pin sleeve such that the pins and flexible track can be held in a fixed position, the cylindrical stationary sleeve having a means for engaging a tool with a working device which follows the contour of the template.  
     
     
       3. A template as in  claim 2  wherein, 
       a marking on the cylindrical stationary sleeve such that the pins are adjusted according to the marking to form the template.  
     
     
       4. A template as in  claim 2  wherein, 
       the adjustable length flexible track has a tapered first end for overlapping a portion of the track to form a smooth surface template over the ends of the pins such that it can guide a roller or other device for following the template for a tool to be guided to work on a work piece such that there is a smooth junction of the tapered first end and the flexible track, and the loose end of the flexible track allows for the adjustment of the template length.  
     
     
       5. A template as in  claim 4  wherein, 
       a second flexible adjustable length track is attached to the pins at a second end of the pins.  
     
     
       6. A template as in  claim 1  wherein, 
       the pins have a first straight portion, an angled portion and a second straight portion wherein the first straight portions form a cylinder of a first diameter, the second straight portions form a cylinder of a second diameter, the angled portions connect the first and second straight portions,  
       the pin sleeve for slideably engaging the cylindrical array of pins at the first diameter and a second pin sleeve for slideably engaging the cylindrical array of pins at the second diameter.  
     
     
       7. A template as in  claim 6  wherein, 
       the angled portion and at least one straight portion have adjustable segmented sections for adjusting the length of the angled portion to adjust the diameter of the second cylinder relative to the fixed diameter of the first straight portion attached to the cylindrical stationary sleeve.  
     
     
       8. A template as in  claim 7  wherein, 
       a handle for connecting the pin sleeve to the second pin sleeve.  
     
     
       9. A template as in  claim 8  wherein, 
       a miter table attached to the handle, the miter table having a column rotatably attached to the handle for setting the angle of the miter table, a table at the end of the arm for engaging a work piece, the column having a slot for adjusting the length of the table from handle.  
     
     
       10. A template as in  claim 9  wherein, 
       the table having a work piece holder linearly adjustable for offsetting a center line of the work piece from a center line of the cylinders of the template adaptor.  
     
     
       11. A template as in  claim 9  wherein, 
       sections of surfaces to be measured for templates representing objects impractical to fit in the miter table can be used to represent larger articles for making templates thereof such that templates can be made for objects too big, too heavy or otherwise unavailable for being present to act as the direct model of the object.  
     
     
       12. A template as in  claim 7  wherein, 
       the second pin sleeve has an adjustable diameter and the handle correspondingly adjusts to the second pin sleeve new diameter.  
     
     
       13. A template as in  claim 7  wherein, 
       the second pin sleeve has a locking mechanism to lock the pins in place.  
     
     
       14. A template as in  claim 1  wherein, 
       the pins have a straight portion and an angled portion connected to the straight portion, wherein the straight portions form a cylinder of a first diameter,  
       the angled portions are telescopically adjustable for changing the length of the angled portion to adjust the diameter of their free ends such that the free ends of the telescoping portion touch a receiving component to form a template thereof.  
     
     
       15. A template as in  claim 14  wherein, 
       a handle is attached to the pin sleeve such that a miter table can be attached thereto.  
     
     
       16. A template comprising: 
       a plurality of pins cylindrically arrayed,  
       the pins have a first straight portion, an angled portion and a second straight portion wherein the first straight portions form a cylinder of a first diameter, the second straight portions form a cylinder of a second diameter, the angled portions connect the first and second straight portions,  
       a pin sleeve for slideably engaging the cylindrical array of pins at the first diameter and a second pin sleeve for slideably engaging the cylindrical array of pins at the second diameter,  
       a locking mechanism on the pin sleeve for locking the pins in place, such that a work piece engaging the end pins of the second diameter will form a template of a different predetermined size at the end of the pins of the first diameter, making it easy to make templates for tools to use for cutting, beveling or welding tools to follow and for other uses.  
     
     
       17. A template as in  claim 16  wherein, 
       a handle for connecting the pin sleeve to the second pin sleeve.  
     
     
       18. A template as in  claim 17  wherein, 
       a miter table attached to the handle, the miter table having a column rotatably attached to the handle for setting the angle of the miter table, a table at the end of the arm for engaging a work piece, the column having a slot for adjusting the length of the table from the handle.  
     
     
       19. A method of forming templates for tools to use comprising: 
       holding a plurality of pins in a pin sleeve attached to a cylindrical stationary sleeve which fixes the pins in a radial position around a center line such that the pins form a cylinder,  
       attaching a smooth faced adjustable length flexible track to one end of the plurality of pins,  
       forming a closed loop template of the smooth faced flexible track by adjusting the length of each pin relative to the adjacent pins longitudinally along the axis of the cylinder while adjusting the length of the adjustable flexible track, the track having a first fixed end and a second free end, the first fixed end being tapered to create a smooth joint as it forms the closed loop with the second free end, so as to allow for the adjustability of the length of the track, and  
       locking the pins in position relative to the pin sleeve such that the template remains fixed.  
     
     
       20. A method of forming templates for tools as in  claim 19  further comprising the step of: 
       attaching a work tool having a roller for following the template to the cylindrical stationary sleeve, such that the tool can work on a workpiece by following the template.  
     
     
       21. A method of forming templates for tools as in  claim 19  further comprising the step of: 
       adjusting the position of the pins by placing one end of the pins in contact with the surface of an object to form a template of the surface of the object.  
     
     
       22. A method of forming templates for tools as in  claim 21  further comprising the step of: 
       using pins having an angled portion between two straight portions to form a first diameter cylinder and a second diameter cylinder such that a corresponding tracking template of the first diameter cylinder is formed on the second diameter cylinder.  
     
     
       23. A method of forming templates for tools as in  claim 22  further comprising the step of: 
       adjusting the angled portion of the pins to change the relative diameters.  
     
     
       24. A method of forming templates for tools as in  claim 22  further comprising the step of: 
       holding the plurality of pins in two pin sleeves connected to a handle and attaching miter table to the handle for positioning the workpiece such that miter cuts and off center cuts can be made using the template formed by use of the miter table holding the receiving component or on the surface of a miter table.  
     
     
       25. A method of forming templates for tools as in  claim 24  further comprising the step of: 
       using a set of curved plates held in the miter table, wherein the shape of each of the plates simulates a shape of a connection component.  
     
     
       26. A method of forming templates for tools as in  claim 19  further comprising the step of: 
       adjusting the position of the pins by placing one end of the pins adjacent a marking to form a tracing template to guide a working tool.  
     
     
       27. A method of forming templates for tools as in  claim 26  further comprising the step of: 
       forming a tracking template for a work device on the cylindrical stationary sleeve by using pins having an angled portion between two straight portions to form a first diameter cylinder equal to that of the engaging diameter of the tracing device and a second diameter cylinder equal to that of the pipe to be cut such that a template formed at the second diameter cylinder, by engaging the receiving component with pin ends of the second straight portion, results in a corresponding track template formed at the first diameter.